BRITISH FILMS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 6

BRITISH FILMS.

STAR ARTIST'S OPINIONS. GOVERNMENT ACTION POSTPONED. (FBOM OUR OWN COHRZSrONDEKT.) . . LONDON, February 04. It is understood that, flo far, tho question of encouraging the British film industry; has been the subject-only of departmental consideration, but that the time will very shortly arrive when the matter will be brought before the Cabinet in order to ascertain the views of the. Government as a. whole. Opinion at the Board of Trade appears to have turned definitely against the idea of immediate legislation providing for the compulsory exhibition of a quota of British films. It is now suggested that, action of this kind should be postponed for a period of twelve months in order to see whether during that time the cinema trade itself is prepared voluntarily to bring about an improvement ■ in the proportion of Britiau films exhibited. Should the results be considered unsatisfactory, the Government would then hold itself free to deal legislatively with the - quota question. The' American Market. Among correspondents who have given their opinions regarding British films is Mr Ivor Novello, the well-known film artist, who has worked in France, America, Germany, Italy, and England. "So heartily do I believe in the future of British films,'' he writes to the "Daily Telegraph,") "and the certainty of their --.finding a market all over the world that I have definitely thrown in ay Jot with a British producing concern, and have signed a 4ong contract for a series of films to be made in England., "I think it is only quite recently that British film producers have realised the qualifications necessary to make a British film acceptable to the American market. One of these is undoubtedly to have a cast which includes as one.of its members an American woman 'star 1 -whbse appearance in -the-picture will ensure, at any rate, a hearing—or must we say, a seeing?—in America. American | films have risen to their present high market ■' value, not so much through the intrinsic worth or , artistry of the films themselves, but through the popular appeal of the > leading character. There is no reason why eventually our British artists ehould not become jußt as world famous, but while we are, eo to speak, marking time, we should endeavour to force our films into the American market, by the inclusion of one of their popular favourites among the cast of Bri tieh artists." Lack of Money. Miss Fay Compton considers that most of the faults attributed to films made in this country may be traced to ojie source, and one source only—jack -of money. "For lack of money the director, -who iB the creator, of moving picture play, is hampered at every step. 'He must severely curb any impulse that involves additional expenditure over and above his authorised budget. If he is a man of imagination ho cannot give rein to it. To construct a> work of art under such conditions is a task of extreme difficulty. "What surprises me, indeed, is that, in all the circumstances, eo many British films reach the higll level of excfillenco they do,"